Wireless network sharing device

ABSTRACT

The field of the invention relates to mobile devices operable to provide sharing of a wireless network. There is provided a mobile device operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the mobile device by the user, or a voice activation command by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to mobile devices operable to providesharing of a wireless network.

2. Technical Background

Setting up a wireless connection between two mobile devices can besomewhat cumbersome, such as requiring a number of steps with pauses inbetween while mobile device level processes are executed and/orpasswords or PIN codes are entered by users of the devices.

3. Discussion of Related Art

An example of cumbersome pairing occurs in Bluetooth 2.0 released in2004. In Bluetooth 2.0, each device must enter a PIN code; pairing isonly successful if both devices enter the same PIN code. Any 16-byteUTF-8 (Universal Character Set Transformation Format—8-bit) string maybe used as a PIN code, however not all devices may be capable ofentering all possible PIN codes. WI-FI is a registered USA trademark ofthe Wi-Fi Alliance, 10900-B Stonelake Boulevard, Suite 126, Austin, Tex.78759 United States, trademark Registration Number 2525795. A Wi-Fienabled device such as a personal computer, video game console,smartphone, or digital audio player can connect to the Internet whenwithin range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. Thecoverage of one or more (interconnected) access points—which may becalled hotspots when offering public access—generally comprises an areathe size of a few rooms but may be expanded to cover many square miles,depending on the number of access points with overlapping coverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobiledevice operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of a wirelessnetwork in response to a single action by a user, the single actioncomprising a physical contact gesture with the mobile device by theuser, or a voice activation command by the user.

The mobile device may be operable to connect to the internet via amobile phone network.

The mobile device may be such that a second device is wirelesslyconnectable to the mobile device via the shared wireless network.

The mobile device may be such that a plurality of devices are wirelesslyconnectable to the mobile device via the shared wireless network.

The mobile device may be adapted to enable the second device or theplurality of devices to access the internet via the shared wirelessnetwork.

The mobile device may be adapted to enable the second device or theplurality of devices to access files on the mobile device via the sharedwireless network.

The mobile device may include a hard switch, wherein the single gestureby the user comprises pressing a hard switch of the mobile device.

The mobile device may include a soft switch, wherein the single actionby the user comprises pressing the soft switch of the mobile device.

The mobile device may include a hidden mechanical button, wherein thesingle action by the user comprises pressing the hidden mechanicalbutton of the mobile device.

The mobile device may include a squeeze control, wherein the singleaction by the user comprises activating the squeeze control of themobile device.

The mobile device may include capacitor sensor strips operable to detectwhen the user has picked up the device, wherein the single action by theuser comprises picking up the mobile device.

The mobile device may be connectable to a 4G mobile phone network.

The mobile device may be connectable to a 3G mobile phone network.

The mobile device may be connectable to a 2G mobile phone network.

The mobile device may be a bar form factor device.

The mobile device may comprise a touch screen and a further bistablescreen.

The mobile device may be one wherein the bistable screen is operable tobe refreshed wholly or partially.

The mobile device may be one wherein the bistable screen is operable tobe refreshed starting with any pixel in a screen area.

The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is operable todefine a limited set of users who may connect to the device to enableinstant and automatic sharing of a wireless network with the limited setof users.

The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is operable toprovide a wireless connection to a personal computer, to enable thatcomputer to connect to the internet.

The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is operable toprovide a wireless connection to two personal computers, to enable filesharing or resource sharing between those two personal computers.

The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is operable toprovide for file synchronization for files that are shared usingautomatic sharing of a wireless network via the mobile device.

The mobile device may be a mobile phone.

The mobile device may be a video game console.

The mobile device may be a smartphone.

The mobile device may be a digital audio player.

The mobile device may be a personal computer.

The mobile device may be a tablet computer.

The mobile device may be a personal portable device.

The mobile device may be operable to provide instant and automaticsharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user,the single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the mobiledevice by the user, or a voice activation command by the user, when thedevice is already turned on and connected to a mobile phone network.

The mobile device may be operable to connect to a wireless dongle, themobile device further operable to view a file structure of files storedon the wireless dongle.

The mobile device may be operable to view the file structure of filesstored on the wireless dongle in a web browser running on the mobiledevice.

The mobile device may be operable to print a file on the dongle at aprinter in connection with the dongle.

The mobile device may be operable to print a file on the dongle at aprinter in connection with the mobile device.

The mobile device may be one wherein the device is in connection withthe internet, the device further operable to connect to a wirelessdongle, the mobile device further operable to stream audio, video orimage files to the wireless dongle in response to a request from thewireless dongle to the mobile device to access a streaming source viathe internet.

The mobile device may have a curved shape.

The mobile device may have a concave front face and a convex rear face.

The mobile device may be one wherein the concave front face and theconvex rear face have a similar magnitude of curvature.

The mobile device may be one wherein the device is further operable todisable the sharing of the wireless network in response to a furthersingle action by the user, the further single action comprising aphysical contact gesture with the mobile device by the user, or a voiceactivation command by the user.

The mobile device may include a hard switch, wherein the further singleaction by the user comprises pressing the hard switch of the mobiledevice.

The mobile device may include a soft switch, wherein the further singleaction by the user comprises pressing the soft switch of the mobiledevice.

The mobile device may include a hidden mechanical button, wherein thefurther single action by the user comprises pressing the hiddenmechanical button of the mobile device.

The mobile device may include a squeeze control, wherein the furthersingle action by the user comprises activating the squeeze control ofthe mobile device.

The mobile device may include capacitor sensor strips operable to detectwhen the user has picked up the device, wherein the further singleaction by the user comprises picking up the mobile device.

The mobile device may be one wherein the shared wireless network is aWi-Fi network.

The mobile device may be one wherein a device local wireless networkinterface of the mobile device is powered down when a mobile phonenetwork signal strength is below a predefined level.

The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless networkinterface of the mobile device is powered down when the mobile phonenetwork signal strength is below the predefined level for a predefinedtime interval.

The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless networkinterface of the mobile device is powered down when the device is notconnected to a mobile phone network.

The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless networkinterface of the mobile device is powered down when the device is notconnected to a mobile phone network for a predefined time interval.

The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless networkinterface of the mobile device is not powered down when the device isacting as a router between other devices on the local wireless network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a customer proposition.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a smartphone specification.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a mobile device industrial design.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a mobile device industrial design.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a mobile phone hardware specification.

FIG. 6 shows examples of chipsets for mobile devices.

FIG. 7 shows an example specification for a back screen of a mobiledevice.

FIG. 8 shows an example software architecture of a mobile device.

FIG. 9 shows examples of aspects of an example mobile device.

FIG. 10 shows examples of an applications concept for a mobile device.

FIG. 11 shows examples of applications for a mobile device.

FIG. 12 shows further examples of applications for a mobile device.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a mobile device with two cameras, with ascreen between the cameras.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a mobile device in which the microphone isplaced in a hole in the body of the mobile device, in the SIM card'seject hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Mobile hot spot—(‘Instant 4G’, for example)

We provide a simple hard (or soft) switch on a mobile phone, to enableinstant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as amobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet accessusing this switch on the phone, instead of a complex user interface(UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends toaccess the internet via your phone. Files on the phone could then alsobe shared (access control would prevent other files from being shared).Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared without providinginternet access. A simple hard (or soft) switch on the mobile phone maybe provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide a simple hard (or soft) switch on a mobile device, to enableinstant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as amobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet accessusing this switch on the device, instead of a complex user interface(UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends toaccess the internet via your mobile device. Files on the mobile devicecould then also be shared (access control would prevent other files frombeing shared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smartphone, or a mobile tablet computer device, for example. Alternatively,files on the mobile device could be shared without providing internetaccess. A simple hard (or soft) switch on the mobile device may beprovided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide a hidden mechanical button on a mobile phone, to enableinstant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as amobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet accessusing this hidden mechanical button on the phone, instead of a complexuser interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enablefriends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phone couldthen also be shared (access control would prevent other files from beingshared). Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared withoutproviding internet access. A hidden mechanical button on the mobilephone may be provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide a hidden mechanical button on a mobile device, to enableinstant and automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as amobile hot spot. For example, a user can instantly share internet accessusing this hidden mechanical button on the device, instead of a complexuser interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantly enablefriends to access the internet via your mobile device. Files on themobile device could then also be shared (access control would preventother files from being shared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone,a mobile smart phone, or a mobile tablet computer device, for example.Alternatively, files on the mobile device could be shared withoutproviding internet access. A hidden mechanical button on the mobiledevice may be provided to disable sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide squeeze control on a mobile phone, to enable instant andautomatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hotspot. For example, a user can instantly share internet access using thissqueeze control on the phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI).So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access theinternet via your phone. Files on the phone could then also be shared(access control would prevent other files from being shared).Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared without providinginternet access. Squeeze control on the mobile phone may be provided totoggle on/off the sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide squeeze control on a mobile device, to enable instant andautomatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the device as a mobile hotspot. For example a user can instantly share internet access using thissqueeze control on the device, instead of a complex user interface (UI).So one use could be at a party to instantly enable friends to access theinternet via your mobile device. Files on the mobile device could thenalso be shared (access control would prevent other files from beingshared). The mobile device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone,or a mobile tablet computer device, for example. Alternatively, files onthe mobile device could be shared without providing internet access.Squeeze control on the mobile device may be provided to toggle on/offthe sharing of a WiFi network.

We provide capacitor sensor strips in a mobile phone, so that the mobilephone can know if a user has picked it up, such that when a user haspicked it up, this enables instant and automatic sharing of a WiFinetwork, using the phone as a mobile hot spot. For example, a user caninstantly share internet access by picking up the phone, instead of acomplex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantlyenable friends to access the internet via your phone. Files on the phonecould then also be shared (access control would prevent other files frombeing shared). Alternatively, files on the phone could be shared withoutproviding internet access. Instant and automatic sharing of a WiFinetwork may be disabled when the user puts the phone down.

We provide capacitor sensor strips in a mobile device, so that themobile device can know if a user has picked it up, such that when a userhas picked it up, this enables instant and automatic sharing of a WiFinetwork, using the device as a mobile hot spot. For example a user caninstantly share internet access by picking up the device, instead of acomplex user interface (UI). So one use could be at a party to instantlyenable friends to access the internet via your mobile device. Files onthe mobile device could then also be shared (access control wouldprevent other files from being shared). The mobile device may be amobile phone, a mobile smart phone, or a mobile tablet computer device,for example. Alternatively, files on the mobile device could be sharedwithout providing internet access. Instant and automatic sharing of aWiFi network may be disabled when the user puts the device down.

The mobile phone may be connected to a 4G mobile phone network. Themobile phone may be connected to a 3G mobile phone network. The mobilephone may be connected to a 2G mobile phone network. The mobile devicemay be connected to a 4G mobile phone network. The mobile device may beconnected to a 3G mobile phone network. The mobile device may beconnected to a 2G mobile phone network.

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may be a bar form factor device.The device case may be a single block. The device may have a touchscreen. The device operating system may be Google Android. The devicemay have a bistable screen. The device may have a touch screen and afurther bistable screen. The bistable screen may be one which can berefreshed wholly or partially, such as for a limited screen area or thewhole screen area, starting with any pixel in that screen area. A glasssubstrate of the device may be curved in conformity with device surfacecurvature.

The bar form factor display device may comprise a plurality of displayscreens. Bar form factors include slab, slate, block, bar and candybar.Bar form factor display devices, eg. slate devices such as the iPhone™and the iPad™, are known. However, these devices comprise only a singledisplay screen. A bar form factor device may be a slate device.

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may be used to define a limited setof users who may connect to the device to enable instant and automaticsharing of a WiFi network with the limited set of users.

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may provide a wireless connectionto a personal computer, to enable that computer to connect to theinternet.

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may provide a wireless connectionto two personal computers, to enable file sharing or resource sharing(eg. sharing of application software) between those two personalcomputers via a trusted intermediary: the mobile device.

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may provide for filesynchronization for files that are shared using automatic sharing of aWiFi network via the mobile device.

The mobile device may be a personal computer, a video game console, asmartphone, a digital audio player, a mobile phone or a tablet computer,for example. The mobile device may include an integral GPS antenna.

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may provide instant and automaticsharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a user,the single action comprising a physical contact gesture by the user withthe mobile device, or a voice activation command, when the device isalready turned on and connected to a mobile phone network. Sharing maybe with a device of another user, or with a plurality of other userdevices.

Virtual Web-USB Interface for Wireless Devices

iPhone/iPad has no universal serial bus (USB) connector—a majordisadvantage. We provide a WiFi connection from a WiFi dongle with a USBinterface; a mobile device can then interface to a memory in the WiFidongle, plus any external device that the USB dongle is plugged into,just as though the USB interface was native to the mobile device. So youcould view the file structure of files stored on the USB dongle itselfin a web browser on the mobile device, or print to a printer the USBdongle is interfaced to, or print to a printer the mobile phone isconnected to, for example. The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) mayprovide automatic wireless network sharing.

USB Stick for In-Vehicle Audio

In-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio systems often have USB interfaces for MP3files, but have no way of accessing internet radio (that is currentlyonly available on really high-end systems). We provide a wireless dataenabled USB dongle that can receive streaming radio (e.g. for internetradio stations, Spotify etc.) The wireless data enabled USB dongle mayinterface wirelessly with a mobile phone or other mobile device. Themobile phone or other mobile device may provide automatic wirelessnetwork sharing. The mobile phone or other mobile device may providewireless access to the internet, thereby providing access via theinternet to radio stations that cannot be received by a vehicle radiobroadcast receiver. The USB dongle captures a data stream and convertsit to a sequence of files—just like the MP3 files the in-vehicle (eg.in-car) audio is designed to read. This enables even a basic in-vehicle(eg. in-car) audio device to have playback/rewind, store etc.functionality for internet radio.

The streamed audio is stored as at least two separate files, whichallows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the car audiosystem software. The user can listen to music online in his vehicle (eg.a car) with no modifications to the in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audiosystem. An online interface is used for setting up the service,selecting stream source. The online interface may be provided by themobile phone or other mobile device.

Device with No Visible Mechanical Buttons Example

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may present a seamless, unibodysurface—although it can still have hidden mechanical buttons e.g. forvolume up, volume down.

Squeeze Control Example

The mobile device (eg. mobile phone) may be turned on or off bysqueezing it.

Curved Phone Example

A unique and organic phone shape—essential for rapid productdifferentiation in a crowded space. The mobile phone has a concave frontface and a convex rear face, which may be of same or similar magnitudeof curvature. Concave front may match a path of a finger as wristrotates. Hence it's very natural to use. Having a curved surface as thevibrating distributed mode loudspeaker (DML) speaker is also bettersince if the main screen (eg. LCD) with the speaker exciters was insteada flat surface, then it would sound unpleasant if that flat surface isplaced down against a tabletop. Curving the surface prevents thishappening. Preferred curvature of front and back is cylindrical, ratherthan spherical or aspherical.

The convex back can have a bistable display. Since the normal restingposition is front face down, the back screen with bi-stable display isnormally displayed when phone is in the resting position. This restingposition is stable. If phone is placed back down (ie convex face down),the phone could spin, which is unstable. Hence a user will likely placephone front face (i.e. concave face) down, with the bi-stable screenshowing.

When the phone is in a pocket, the front face (concave face) can faceinwards, since this better matches leg curvature. This can be the betterconfiguration (as opposed to front face up) for antenna reception.

Curved Device Example

A unique and organic device shape—essential for rapid productdifferentiation in a crowded space. The mobile device has a concavefront face and a convex rear face, which may be of same or similarmagnitude of curvature. Concave front may match a path of a finger aswrist rotates. Hence it's very natural to use. Having a curved surfaceas the vibrating DML speaker is also better since if the main screen(eg. LCD) with the speaker exciters was instead a flat surface, then itwould sound unpleasant if that flat surface is placed down against atabletop. Curving the surface prevents this happening. Preferredcurvature of front and back is cylindrical, rather than spherical oraspherical.

The convex back can have a bistable display. Since the normal restingposition is front face down, the back screen with bi-stable display isnormally displayed when device is in the resting position. This restingposition is stable. If the device is placed back down (ie convex facedown), the device could spin, which is unstable. Hence a user willlikely place device front face (i.e. concave face) down, with thebi-stable screen showing.

When the device is in a pocket, the front face (concave face) can faceinwards, since this better matches leg curvature. This can be the betterconfiguration (as opposed to front face up) for antenna reception.

The curved device may be a mobile phone, a mobile smart phone, a mobiletablet computer device, a personal computer, a video game console, or adigital audio player, for example.

Capacitive ‘Hold’ Sensors Example

With a conventional phone, one has to manually activate the home screenif the phone is in its idle state, usually by pressing a button. We usecapacitor sensor strips in the phone, so that the phone can know if theuser has picked it up and then automatically wake-up—e.g. activate thestart-up/home screen.

This could be used instead of a soft or hard key lock on the phone aswell as for the screen brightness.

LAN Connectivity Management (Wi-Fi Interface Management for PortableDevices)

A portable router device is provided with a Wide Area Network (WAN)interface (using for instance standardized telecommunications such as2G/3G/4G/LTE) and a Local Area Network (LAN) interface (for instanceWiFi networks, campus networks, personal networks including Bluetoothand other short range network connectivity). The LAN interface may beswitched on only when the device has connected to the WAN. The LANinterface may be switched on only within a predefined range of WANsignal strength. Other devices are able to connect, through the router,to the WAN network (for example to the internet) via the LAN interfacewhen the LAN interface is activated.

The LAN interface of the router device may be deactivated when thedevice is not connected to a WAN network. The LAN interface of therouter device may be deactivated when the WAN signal strength is below apredefined level. In one example the signal level has to be below thethreshold for a certain time before the LAN interface is deactivated.The router device may maintain the LAN activation if for instance thereis communication between other devices on the LAN, even when otherwiseit would have deactivated the LAN interface because for example there isno connection to a WAN network or the WAN signal strength is below apredefined level.

The router device reduces power consumption (it is powered for instancewith a battery or powered by mains electricity) when the LAN interfaceis switched off.

When the WAN connection is absent, or the WAN signal strength is tooweak, deactivating the LAN interface will also provide the correct userexperience for users of other LAN devices possibly using the routerdevice.

The other LAN devices will for instance not try to connect to theinternet using the router, if the router is in a low WAN signal strengtharea (non-serviceable area).

Already existing devices such as portable routers and phones with aportable router function, will provide the option to enable or disablethe LAN interface, but not depending on if the device is connected toWAN network or not.

There is provided a portable router device; it has WAN interface (eg.2G/3G/4G) and LAN interface (eg. WiFi). In the case in which we have aWAN (eg. 2G, 3G,4G) signal, the LAN (eg. Wi-Fi) interface is switched onand Wi-Fi devices are able to connect to the WAN through the router. Inthe case in which we don't have WAN signal, we turn LAN interface (eg.Wi-Fi) off to save the battery power and to provide the right userexperience in Wi-Fi devices such as iPhone: they'll not try to connectto internet through the router in the case in which the router is in anon-serviceable area.

Note

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawingsand fully described above with particularity and detail in connectionwith what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferredexample(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art that numerous modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forthherein.

APPENDIX 1: Wi-Fi PRIMER

WI-FI is a registered USA trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, 10900-BStonelake Boulevard, Suite 126, Austin, Tex. 78759 United States,trademark Registration Number 2525795. A Wi-Fi enabled device such as apersonal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audioplayer can connect to the Internet when within range of a wirelessnetwork connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more(interconnected) access points—which may be called hotspots whenoffering public access—generally comprises an area the size of a fewrooms but may be expanded to cover many square miles, depending on thenumber of access points with overlapping coverage.

The Affiance has generally enforced the use of ‘Wi-Fi’ to describe onlya narrow range of connectivity technologies including wireless localarea network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 standards, device to deviceconnectivity (such as Wi-Fi Peer to Peer, also known as Wi-Fi Direct),and a range of technologies that support PAN (Personal area network),LAN (Local area network) and even WAN (Wide area network) connections.

A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console,smartphone or digital audio player can connect to the Internet whenwithin range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. Thecoverage of one or more (interconnected) access points—which may becalled hotspots—can comprise an area as small as a few rooms or as largeas many square miles. Coverage in the larger area may depend on a groupof access points with overlapping coverage. Wi-Fi technology has beenused in wireless mesh networks, for example, in London, UK.

In addition to private use in homes and offices, Wi-Fi can providepublic access at Wi-Fi hotspots provided either free-of-charge or tosubscribers to various commercial services. Organizations andbusinesses—such as those running airports, hotels and restaurants—oftenprovide free-use hotspots to attract or assist clients.

A wireless access point (WAP) connects a group of wireless devices to anadjacent wired LAN. An access point resembles a network hub, relayingdata between connected wireless devices in addition to a (usually)single connected wired device, most often an ethernet hub or switch,allowing wireless devices to communicate with other wired devices.

Wireless adapters allow devices to connect to a wireless network. Theseadapters connect to devices using various external or internalinterconnects such as PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), miniPCl(mini Peripheral Component Interconnect), USB (Universal Serial Bus),ExpressCard, Cardbus and PC Card (originally PCMCIA Card; PCMCIA standsfor Personal Computer Memory Card International Association). As of2010, most newer laptop computers come equipped with internal adapters.Internal cards are generally more difficult to install.

Wireless routers integrate a Wireless Access Point, ethernet switch, andinternal router firmware application that provides IP (InternetProtocol) routing, NAT (Network address translation), and DNS (DomainName System) forwarding through an integrated WAN-interface. A wirelessrouter allows wired and wireless ethernet LAN devices to connect to a(usually) single WAN device such as a cable modem or a DSL (DigitalSubscriber Line) modem. A wireless router allows all three devices,mainly the access point and router, to be configured through one centralutility. This utility is usually an integrated web server that isaccessible to wired and wireless LAN clients and often optionally to WANclients. This utility may also be an application that is run on adesktop computer such as Apple's AirPort.

Wireless network bridges connect a wired network to a wireless network.A bridge differs from an access point: an access point connects wirelessdevices to a wired network at the data-link layer. Two wireless bridgesmay be used to connect two wired networks over a wireless link, usefulin situations where a wired connection may be unavailable, such asbetween two separate homes.

Wireless range-extenders or wireless repeaters can extend the range ofan existing wireless network. Strategically placed range-extenders canelongate a signal area or allow for the signal area to reach aroundbarriers such as those pertaining in L-shaped corridors. Wirelessdevices connected through repeaters will suffer from an increasedlatency for each hop. Additionally, a wireless device connected to anyof the repeaters in the chain will have a throughput limited by the“weakest link” between the two nodes in the chain from which theconnection originates to where the connection ends.

APPENDIX 2: CONCEPTS

A. Yota Introduction

1. The main focus for Yota's IP protection strategy will be its new LTEphone. The LTE phone will include innovative software, hardware andprovide an innovative user experience.

B. List of Concepts 1. ‘Meet Camera’—Seeing Eye-To-Eye when VideoConferencing

Conventional video phones give a very poor user experience becausethere's rarely eye-to-eye contact—instead, the caller seems to belooking away from you since he's looking away from the camera. We placecameras on either side of the LCD screen to create a virtual camera inthe centre of the screen, using an algorithm based on the two images.The image taken by the virtual camera is what is shown to the otherparty: this gives the impression to the other party that you are lookingdirectly at them—a much better user experience. One advantage of MeetCamera is that one can approach a large panel display with always onvideo-conferencing and talk directly to the person shown on it—givingthe feeling of eye-to-eye contact.

The face displayed by the virtual camera can be placed in the centre ofthe screen, even if the face of the person whose image is being capturedmoves significantly away from the centre of the screen. This placementcan be accomplished by a tracking algorithm. See FIG. 13.

2. Capacitive ‘Hold’ Sensors

With a conventional phone, one has to manually activate the home screenif the phone is in its idle state, usually by pressing a button. We usecapacitor sensor strips in the phone, so that the phone can know if theuser has picked it up and then automatically wake-up—e.g. activate thestart-up/home screen.

This could be used instead of a soft or hard key lock on the phone aswell as for the screen brightness.

3. DML Phone Speaker

It's hard to get good quality audio performance, unless you have a largespeaker with a large and ugly speaker hole. We use NXT plc distributedmode loudspeaker (DML) technology here to vibrate the entire phonescreen—the whole screen surface acts as the speaker. The speaker holecan be fully eliminated. One can use two small drivers/exciters underthe glass to make the screen vibrate. DML has never been used before todrive a screen surface in a mobile phone. Haptic feedback can beprovided by the drivers too—a new use for the DML exciters.

4. Mobile Hot Spot—‘Instant 4G’

We provide a simple hard (or soft) switch on phone, to enable instantand automatic sharing of a WiFi network, using the phone as a mobile hotspot. A user can instantly share internet access using this switch onthe phone, instead of a complex user interface (UI). So one could use beat a party to instantly enable friends to access the internet via yourphone. Files on the phone could then also be shared (access controlwould prevent other files from being shared).

5. Virtual Web-USB Interface for Wireless Devices

iPhone/iPad has no USB connector—a major disaadvantage. We provide aWiFi connection from a WiFi dongle with a USB interface; the iPhone/iPadcan then interface to a memory in the WiFi dongle, plus any externaldevice that the USB dongle is plugged into, just as though the USBinterface was native to the iPhone. So you could view the file structureof files stored on the USB dongle itself in a web browser on the iPhone,or print to a printer the USB dongle is interfaced to.

6. USB Stick for In-Car Audio

In-car audio systems often have USB interfaces for MP3 files, but willhave no way of accessing internet radio (that is currently onlyavailable on really high-end systems). We provide a wireless dataenabled USB dongle that can receive streaming radio (e.g. for internetradio stations, Spotify etc.) The USB dongle captures the data streamand converts it to a sequence of files—just like the MP3 files thein-car audio is designed to read. This enables even a basic in-car audiodevice to have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for interneradio.

The streamed audio is stored as at least two separate files, whichallows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the car audiosystem software. The user can listen to music online in his car with nomodifications to the in-car audio system. An online interface is usedfor setting up the service, selecting stream source.

7. User Experience (UX) to Identify Sound Sources

Individual sound sources (different people speaking at a phone inhands-free mode) are identified with two or more inbuilt microphones.Then the individual sources are graphically represented on the devicerelative to their position in the room. A visual interface on the phoneenables selection by hand of which sound source to record e.g. tooptimise the noise cancellation/sonic focus for the selected soundsource. This could be advantageous in for instance meetings where oneperson is talking and you want to aggressively noise cancel everythingelse.

8. Phone with no Visible Mechanical Buttons

The phone presents a seamless, unibody surface—although it can stillhave hidden mechanical buttons e.g. for volume up, volume down.

9. Squeeze Control

You can turn the phone on or off by squeezing it.

10. Curved Phone

A unique and organic phone shape—essential for rapid productdifferentiation in a crowded space. The mobile phone has a concave frontface and a convex rear face, of same or similar magnitude of curvature.Concave front matches path of finger as wrist rotates. Hence it's verynatural to use. Having a curved surface as the vibrating DML speaker isalso better since if the LCD with the speaker exciters was instead aflat surface, then it would sound unpleasant if that flat surface isplaced down against a tabletop. Curving the surface prevents thishappening. Preferred curvature of front and back is cylindrical, ratherthan spherical or aspherical.

The convex back can have a bistable display. Since the normal restingposition is front face down, the back screen with bi-stable display isnormally displayed when phone is in the resting position. This restingposition is stable. If phone is placed back down (ie convex face down),the phone could spin, which is unstable. Hence a user will likely placephone front face (i.e. concave face) down, with the bi-stable screenshowing.

When the phone is in a pocket, the front face (concave face) can faceinwards, since this better matches leg curvature. This can be the betterconfiguration (as opposed to front face up) for antenna reception.

11. Microphone in SIM Card “Eject Hole”

The microphone is placed in a hole in the body of the mobile device, inthe SIM card's eject hole. See FIG. 14.

12. Tactile Casing of Mobile Device

The casing of the mobile device consists of a material that can changeits tactile properties from wood to metal (“morphing”).

APPENDIX 3: PRIMER ON LTE

3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), is the latest standard in the mobilenetwork technology tree that produced the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA networktechnologies. It is a project of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project(3GPP), operating under a name trademarked by one of the associationswithin the partnership, the European Telecommunications StandardsInstitute.

The current generation of mobile telecommunication networks arecollectively known as 3G (for “third generation”). Although LTE is oftenmarketed as 4G, first-release LTE does not fully comply with the IMTAdvanced 4G requirements. The pre-4G standard is a step toward LTEAdvanced, a 4th generation standard (4G) of radio technologies designedto increase the capacity and speed of mobile telephone networks. LTEAdvanced is backwards compatible with LTE and uses the same frequencybands, while LTE is not backwards compatible with 3G systems.

MetroPCS and Verizon Wireless in the United States and several worldwidecarriers announced plans, beginning in 2009, to convert their networksto LTE. The world's first publicly available LTE-service was opened byTeliaSonera in the two Scandinavian capitals Stockholm and Oslo on the14th of December 2009. LTE is a set of enhancements to the UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) which was introduced in 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 8. Much of 3GPP Release 8focuses on adopting 4G mobile communication's technology, including anall-IP flat networking architecture. On Aug. 18, 2009, the EuropeanCommission announced it will invest a total of

18 million into researching the deployment of LTE and the certified 4Gsystem LTE Advanced.

While it is commonly seen as a cell phone or common carrier development,LTE is also endorsed by public safety agencies in the US as thepreferred technology for the new 700 MHz public-safety radio band.Agencies in some areas have filed for waivers hoping to use the 700 MHzspectrum with other technologies in advance of the adoption of anationwide standard.

The LTE specification provides downlink peak rates of at least 100 Mbps,an uplink of at least 50 Mbps and RAN round-trip times of less than 10ms. LTE supports scalable carrier bandwidths, from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz andsupports both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time divisionduplexing (TDD).

Part of the LTE standard is the System Architecture Evolution, a flatIP-based network architecture designed to replace the GPRS Core Networkand ensure support for, and mobility between, some legacy or non-3GPPsystems, for example GPRS and WiMAX respectively.

The main advantages with LTE are high throughput, low latency, plug andplay, FDD and TDD in the same platform, an improved end-user experienceand a simple architecture resulting in low operating costs. LTE willalso support seamless passing to cell towers with older networktechnology such as GSM, cdmaOne, UMTS, and CDMA2000. The next step forLTE evolution is LTE Advanced and is currently being standardized in3GPP Release 10.

APPENDIX 4: PRIMER ON LTE ADVANCED

LTE Advanced is a preliminary mobile communication standard, formallysubmitted as a candidate 4G system to ITU-T in late 2009, was approvedinto ITU, International Telecommunications Union, IMT-Advanced andexpected to be finalized by 3GPP in early 2011. It is standardized bythe 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a major enhancement ofthe 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard.

The LTE format was first proposed by NTT DoCoMo of Japan and has beenadopted as the international standards. LTE standardization has come toa mature state by now where changes in the specification are limited tocorrections and bug fixes. The first commercial services were launchedin Scandinavia in December 2009 followed by the United States and Japanin 2010. More first release LTE networks are expected to be deployedglobally during 2010 as a natural evolution of several 2G and 3Gsystems, including Global system for mobile communications (GSM) andUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) (3GPP as well as3GPP2).

Being described as a 3.9G (beyond 3G but pre-4G) technology the firstrelease LTE does not meet the IMT Advanced requirements for 4G alsocalled IMT Advanced as defined by the International TelecommunicationUnion such as peak data rates up to 1 Gbit/s. The ITU has invited thesubmission of candidate Radio Interface Technologies (RITs) followingtheir requirements as mentioned in a circular letter. The work by 3GPPto define a 4G candidate radio interface technology started in Release 9with the study phase for LTE-Advanced. The requirements for LTE-Advancedare defined in 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 36.913, “Requirements forFurther Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced).” These requirements arebased on the ITU requirements for 4G and on 3GPP operators' ownrequirements for advancing LTE. Major technical considerations includethe following:

-   -   Continual improvement to the LTE radio technology and        architecture    -   Scenarios and performance requirements for interworking with        legacy radio access technologies    -   Backward compatibility of LTE-Advanced with LTE. An LTE terminal        should be able to work in an LTE-Advanced network and vice        versa. Any exceptions will be considered by 3GPP.    -   Account taken of recent World Radiocommunication Conference        (WRC-07) decisions regarding new IMT spectrum as well as        existing frequency bands to ensure that LTE-Advanced        geographically accommodates available spectrum for channel        allocations above 20 MHz. Also, requirements must recognize        those parts of the world in which wideband channels are not        available.

Likewise, 802.16m, ‘WiMAX 2’, has been approved by ITU into the IMTAdvanced family. /WiMAX 2 is designed to be backward compatible withWiMAX 1/1.5 devices. Most vendors now support ease of conversion ofearlier ‘pre-4G’, pre-advanced versions and some support softwaredefined upgrades of core base station equipment from 3G.

The mobile communication industry and standardization organizations havetherefore started to work on 4G access technologies such as LTEAdvanced. At a workshop in April 2008 in China 3GPP agreed the plans forfuture work on Long Term Evolution (LTE). A first set of 3GPPrequirements on LTE Advanced has been approved in June 2008. Besides thepeak data rate 1 Gbit/s that fully supports the 4G requirements asdefined by the ITU-R, it also targets faster switching between powerstates and improved performance at the cell edge. Detailed proposals arebeing studied within the working groups.

Concepts

There are provided multiple concepts in this disclosure. The followingmay be of assistance in defining some of these concepts.

A. Mobile device operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of awireless network in response to a single action by a user

There is provided a mobile device operable to provide instant andautomatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single actionby a user, the single action comprising a physical contact gesture withthe mobile device by the user, or a voice activation command by theuser. Further features may include:

-   -   The mobile device may be operable to connect to the internet via        a mobile phone network.    -   The mobile device may be such that a second device is wirelessly        connectable to the mobile device via the shared wireless        network.    -   The mobile device may be such that a plurality of devices are        wirelessly connectable to the mobile device via the shared        wireless network.    -   The mobile device may be adapted to enable the second device or        the plurality of devices to access the internet via the shared        wireless network.    -   The mobile device may be adapted to enable the second device or        the plurality of devices to access files on the mobile device        via the shared wireless network.    -   The mobile device may include a hard switch, wherein the single        gesture by the user comprises pressing a hard switch of the        mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include a soft switch, wherein the single        action by the user comprises pressing the soft switch of the        mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include a hidden mechanical button,        wherein the single action by the user comprises pressing the        hidden mechanical button of the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include a squeeze control, wherein the        single action by the user comprises activating the squeeze        control of the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include capacitor sensor strips operable        to detect when the user has picked up the device, wherein the        single action by the user comprises picking up the mobile        device.    -   The mobile device may be connectable to a 4G mobile phone        network.    -   The mobile device may be connectable to a 3G mobile phone        network.    -   The mobile device may be connectable to a 2G mobile phone        network.    -   The mobile device may be a bar form factor device.    -   The mobile device may comprise a touch screen and a further        bistable screen.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the bistable screen is        operable to be refreshed wholly or partially.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the bistable screen is        operable to be refreshed starting with any pixel in a screen        area.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is        operable to define a limited set of users who may connect to the        device to enable instant and automatic sharing of a wireless        network with the limited set of users.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is        operable to provide a wireless connection to a personal        computer, to enable that computer to connect to the internet.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is        operable to provide a wireless connection to two personal        computers, to enable file sharing or resource sharing between        those two personal computers.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the mobile device is        operable to provide for file synchronization for files that are        shared using automatic sharing of a wireless network via the        mobile device.    -   The mobile device may be a mobile phone.    -   The mobile device may be a video game console.    -   The mobile device may be a smartphone.    -   The mobile device may be a digital audio player.    -   The mobile device may be a personal computer.    -   The mobile device may be a tablet computer.    -   The mobile device may be a personal portable device.    -   The mobile device may be operable to provide instant and        automatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single        action by a user, the single action comprising a physical        contact gesture with the mobile device by the user, or a voice        activation command by the user, when the device is already        turned on and connected to a mobile phone network.    -   The mobile device may be operable to connect to a wireless        dongle, the mobile device further operable to view a file        structure of files stored on the wireless dongle.    -   The mobile device may be operable to view the file structure of        files stored on the wireless dongle in a web browser running on        the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may be operable to print a file on the dongle        at a printer in connection with the dongle.    -   The mobile device may be operable to print a file on the dongle        at a printer in connection with the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the device is in connection        with the internet, the device further operable to connect to a        wireless dongle, the mobile device further operable to stream        audio, video or image files to the wireless dongle in response        to a request from the wireless dongle to the mobile device to        access a streaming source via the internet.    -   The mobile device may have a curved shape.    -   The mobile device may have a concave front face and a convex        rear face.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the concave front face and        the convex rear face have a similar magnitude of curvature.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the device is further        operable to disable the sharing of the wireless network in        response to a further single action by the user, the further        single action comprising a physical contact gesture with the        mobile device by the user, or a voice activation command by the        user.    -   The mobile device may include a hard switch, wherein the further        single action by the user comprises pressing the hard switch of        the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include a soft switch, wherein the further        single action by the user comprises pressing the soft switch of        the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include a hidden mechanical button,        wherein the further single action by the user comprises pressing        the hidden mechanical button of the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include a squeeze control, wherein the        further single action by the user comprises activating the        squeeze control of the mobile device.    -   The mobile device may include capacitor sensor strips operable        to detect when the user has picked up the device, wherein the        further single action by the user comprises picking up the        mobile device.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the shared wireless network        is a Wi-Fi network.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein a device local wireless        network interface of the mobile device is powered down when a        mobile phone network signal strength is below a predefined        level.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless        network interface of the mobile device is powered down when the        mobile phone network signal strength is below the predefmed        level for a predefined time interval.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless        network interface of the mobile device is powered down when the        device is not connected to a mobile phone network.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless        network interface of the mobile device is powered down when the        device is not connected to a mobile phone network for a        predefmed time interval.    -   The mobile device may be one wherein the device local wireless        network interface of the mobile device is not powered down when        the device is acting as a router between other devices on the        local wireless network.

Method of providing instant and automatic sharing of a wireless networkin response to a single action by a user of a mobile device, comprisingthe step of providing instant and automatic sharing of the wirelessnetwork in response to the single action by the user, the single actioncomprising a physical contact gesture with the mobile device by theuser, or a voice activation command by the user.

Computer program product operable to provide instant and automaticsharing of a wireless network in response to a single action by a userof a mobile device, the computer program product when running on themobile device operable to provide instant and automatic sharing of thewireless network in response to the single action by the user, thesingle action comprising a physical contact gesture with the mobiledevice by the user, or a voice activation command by the user.

B. USB Dongle for Streamed Files, eg. Audio (eg. Internet Radio), Videoor Image Files

There is provided a wireless data enabled USB dongle operable to receivestreamed files. Further features may include:

-   -   Files may be audio, video, or images.    -   streamed audio is internet radio    -   USB dongle may interface wirelessly with a mobile phone or other        mobile device    -   The mobile phone or other mobile device may provide automatic        wireless network sharing    -   USB dongle operable to connect to an in-vehicle USB socket,        wherein an in-vehicle computer system is operable to play audio        files on the dongle.    -   mobile phone or other mobile device may provide wireless access        to the internet    -   mobile phone or other mobile device may provide wireless access        to the internet, wherein access is provided via the internet to        radio stations that cannot be received by a vehicle radio        broadcast receiver    -   USB dongle operable to capture a data stream and converts it to        a sequence of files    -   Files may be MP3 files    -   Files may be audio files    -   Files may be video files    -   Files may be images    -   USB dongle enables an in-vehicle (eg. in-car) audio system to        have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for audio files.    -   USB dongle enables an in-vehicle (eg. in-car) display system to        have playback/rewind, store etc. functionality for video files.    -   USB dongle enables an in-vehicle (eg. in-car) display system to        have step forward, step backward, store etc. functionality for        image files.    -   streamed audio is stored as at least two separate files, which        allows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the        car audio system software.    -   streamed video is stored as at least two separate files, which        allows the user to choose to skip to the next track using the        car video system software.    -   The user can listen to audio (eg. music) online in his vehicle        (eg. a car) with no modifications to the in-vehicle (eg. in-car)        audio system.    -   The user can view video online in his vehicle (eg. a car) with        no modifications to the in-vehicle (eg. in-car) video system.    -   An online interface is used for setting up the service,        selecting stream source.    -   The online interface may be provided by the mobile phone or        other mobile device.    -   Dongle may be a USB stick for in-vehicle audio

1. Mobile device operable to connect to the internet via a mobile phonenetwork; in response to a single action by a user, provide instant andautomatic sharing of a wireless network in response to a single actionby a user, wherein at least one second device is wirelessly connectableto the mobile device via the shared wireless network; enable the atleast one second device to access the internet via the shared wirelessnetwork wherein, the single action comprising comprises at least one of:a physical contact gesture with the mobile device by the user; and avoice activation command by the user. 2-5. (canceled)
 6. Mobile deviceof claim 1, adapted to enable the at least one second device to accessfiles on the mobile device via the shared wireless network.
 7. Mobiledevice of claim 1 including a hard switch, a software switch, a hiddenmechanical button, wherein the single action by the user comprisespressing the hard switch, the software switch or the hidden mechanicalbutton of the mobile device. 8-9. (canceled)
 10. Mobile device of claim1 including a squeeze control, wherein the single action by the usercomprises activating a squeeze control of the mobile device.
 11. Mobiledevice of claim 1 including capacitor sensor strips operable to detectwhen the user has picked up the device, wherein the single action by theuser comprises picking up the mobile device. 12-15. (canceled) 16.Mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a touchscreen and a further bistable screen.
 17. Mobile device of claim 16,wherein the physical contact gesture is received over the bistablescreen.
 18. Mobile device of claim 17, wherein the touch screen at leastpartially overlaps the bistable screen and the physical contact gestureif further received over the touch screen.
 19. Mobile device of claim 1,wherein the mobile device is operable to define a limited set of userswho may connect to the device to enable instant and automatic sharing ofa wireless network with the limited set of users.
 20. Mobile device ofclaim 1, wherein the mobile device is operable to provide a wirelessconnection to a personal computer, to enable that computer to connect tothe internet.
 21. Mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device isoperable to provide a wireless connection to two personal computers, toenable file sharing or resource sharing between those two personalcomputers.
 22. Mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device isoperable to provide for file synchronization for files that are sharedusing automatic sharing of a wireless network via the mobile device.23-29. (canceled)
 30. Mobile device of claim 1, wherein the instant andautomatic sharing of the wireless network is performed when the deviceis already turned on and connected to a mobile phone network.
 31. Mobiledevice of claim 1, wherein the device is operable to connect to awireless dongle, the mobile device further operable to view a filestructure of files stored on the wireless dongle.
 32. Mobile device ofclaim 31, wherein the device is operable to: view the file structure offiles stored on the wireless dongle in a web browser running on themobile device; and print a file on the dongle at a printer in connectionwith the dongle at a printer in connection with the dongle or inconnection with the mobile device. 33-34. (canceled)
 35. Mobile deviceof claim 1, wherein the device is further operable to connect to awireless dongle; and stream audio, video or image files to the wirelessdongle in response to a request from the wireless dongle to the mobiledevice to access a streaming source via the internet. 36-38. (canceled)39. Mobile device of claim 1 further operable to disable the sharing ofthe wireless network in response to a further single action by the user,the further single action comprising at least one of a physical contactgesture with the mobile device by the user, and a voice activationcommand by the user. 40-44. (canceled)
 45. Mobile device of claim 1,wherein the shared wireless network is a Wi-Fi network. 46-51.(canceled)